Do you remember how you spent spring break in college? If you're like us, the details might be a bit fuzzy. (We'd prefer to leave it at that.) Well, a group of UMR students is spending this spring break in Guatemala, where they're doing memorable stuff that makes a difference. As you have probably figured out, we're doing a special series of posts this week on the trip. (Next week, we'll get back to regular programming; whatever that means.) In her latest dispatch, Cassidy Volek discusses progress on the installation of water filters, a visit to an orphanage and a stone basketball hoop:
The materials group returned to Pastor Tomas´ home to retest all of the filters. Work was much smoother since we had worked out all the bugs on Sunday. Another positive was that the water pressure was not spiking like on Sunday. We had a constant pressure of 20 psi. The high grog content (60-40 grog to clay ratio) filters were tested first and proved to filter water successfully in a reasonable time. We are still waiting on the coli form counts of these tests. However, the tests on Sunday proved that there were coli forms present in the water. Next the 50-50 grog to clay content filters were tested -- these proved to filter water but at a much slower rate than the 60-40 filters. Finally, we were going to test the 40-60 grog to clay ratio filters, but both of them failed under 20 psi. A crack propagated in the ceramic and continued to grow under pressure.
Andrea, Jeff, and Jen went to Tomas´ church and played with the children while the Women as Global Leaders class did their presentation. Again the children loved having their picture taken and playing. Cecilia and I stayed at Tomas´ home and finished up the testing and then fed the chickens and turkeys. This was entertaining, the birds were very tame and came right to us.
After the testing was complete, we traveled to Lemoa and visited the orphanage where Dr. Elmore installed a well a few years ago. The children were so cute and excited to play with us. We saw a very contaminated lake that had trash lying in it. Some women were washing clothes in it. We also saw a Mayan ball court, which was fascinating. It consists of one hoop which is like a small stone basketball hoop with no net, turned 90 degrees.
Signing off from Guatemala,
Cassidy
